Suicide-related interpersonal needs of young Iranian people: A preliminary validation of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness constructs

Integrating the interpersonal theory of suicide and the dualistic model of passion among adults at risk for suicide

The dualistic model of passion proposes two passion types, harmonious and obsessive, representing adaptive and maladaptive passion, respectively. Studies suggest interpersonal experiences explain harmonious passion benefits and obsessive passion negative consequences. However, research has not examined passion among individuals with clinically elevated suicide risk, nor the associations between passion types and suicide-related outcomes. The present study presents a conceptual model linking the dualistic model of passion and the interpersonal theory of suicide constructs [specifically, thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB)]. U.S. adults with clinically elevated suicide risk (N = 484) completed online, cross-sectional assessments of harmonious and obsessive passion, TB, PB, and future dispositions (i.e., positive focus, negative focus, and suicide orientation). A mediation model indicated the effects of harmonious and obsessive passion on positive and negative focus and suicide orientation were largely explained by TB and PB. The present findings suggest engaging in a passion activity may be meaningfully related to suicide-related interpersonal perceptions (i.e., TB and PB).

Psychometric evaluation of the interpersonal needs questionnaire in the Indonesian language

Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among youths and the commonly reported associated risk factor is interpersonal needs, which consists of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. To date, there is no validated interpersonal needs questionnaire in Indonesia. Therefore, this research aims to validate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) among adolescents and young adults in the Indonesian language. Based on the results, the INQ-15 has high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It was also found to have satisfactory content and concurrent validity, as well as support two factor model of factorial validity. This implies that The Indonesian version of the INQ-15 is a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure the interpersonal needs among adolescents and young adults, both in clinical and research applications.

Perceived Burdensomeness, Thwarted Belongingness, and Social Exclusion in Transgender Women: Psychometric Properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire

Transgender women (TGW) experience serious psychiatric problems and high suicide rates. According to the interpersonal theory of suicide, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness play major roles in suicidality and can be measured by the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ). However, no study has validated the use of the INQ in TGW. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the INQ among TGW. We recruited 198 TGW (mean age 38.47 years) from Shenyang, China, using snowball sampling. The construct validity of the INQ was assessed through factor analysis, and convergent and divergent validity were examined through a structural equation model with other psychosocial factors. The construct validation analysis supported a three-factor model (perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and social exclusion) with satisfactory fit indices: χ²/df = 1.54, RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.931, TLI = 0.916, SRMR = 0.053. The thwarted belongingness was significantly associated with self-esteem and social support, and the social exclusion was significantly associated with loneliness, depression, entrapment, and defeat, suggesting satisfactory convergent and divergent validity for the three-factor model. The present findings indicate that for TGW, high social exclusion is important in assessing perceived interpersonal needs, while the notable deviation from previous two-factor model warrants further study.

Validation of the Persian version of Skindex-16 among older patients with skin diseases

Background

Skin conditions often considerably impact the older patients’ psycho-social health and quality of life (QoL). The present study was aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Skindex-16 among older people with skin diseases.

Methods

In this validation study, 260 older patients suffering from a range of skin conditions were recruited from a dermatology clinic in Rasht, Iran. Data were collected using a checklist for demographic and clinical characteristics and the Skindex-16 questionnaire. In this study, validity (face, content, and construct) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) of the Skindex-16 were assessed and reported.

Results

The mean age of participants was 64.51 ± 5.04 years. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model had acceptable fitness into the expected three-factor structure [χ 2 /df = 249.363, P < 0.001; GFI = 0.961; TLI =0.952; RMSEA = 0.078 (90% CI = 0.06, 0.09) and SRMR = 0.06]. The reliability analysis results confirmed that the values of Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for Skindex-16 were in the acceptable range (0.923).

Conclusions

Our evaluation of the Skindex-16 indicates that it is reliable and a valid instrument that can be used for measuring QoL for Iranian dermatologic patients.